Sunnyvale Municipal Golf Course

I have played this course many times and I usually have good experiences. This time the course was busy and the place of play was terrible. I’ve played many of courses on busy days and never experienced the poor pace of play. When you go to a tee box and have to wait 15-20 minutes for the group in front of you to tee off it makes the round unbearable. Which was the case yesterday. I understand busy days but I never have seen a golf Marshall ever at this course and when people can’t keep up and take extra shots and take 10 minutes looking for balls a Marshall should be around to have them pick up the pace. They should know by the reservations how busy it’s gonna be and a Marshall should be around to make sure groups are keeping up. I ended up leaving after the 16th cus I was so frustrated and miserable due to the pace of play and it totally ruined the round for my group.

The round took a little over 5 hours. Why? Because they schedule groups 7 minutes apart, and that way they can sell more rounds. I only play Sunnyvale when nothing else is available.

First of all the noise from highway was more than I remembered. Secondly, when 3 was of us were at the 14th hole 3hrs from start, a Marshall came and asked us to move along.. We finished in 4hrs 20 min which is actually a bit faster than we played at this course many times. I like sj muni much better. It is similar but quieter and no pressure.

Pace of play was horrendously slow. Course marshals did not do their job to enforce pace of play. Foursomes were playing from back tees that had no business doing so. We saw more that one on group of 5-6 playing together. Me and my golf partner left after 11 holes.

4 of us started at 11:52 and in 3hrs we were at the 13th hole and it has long holes too. 12 holes in 3hrs is pretty normal for a long and flat 18 hole course and yet a Marshall came and wanted us to move faster. We finished at 4:30. I would rather go to SJ Municipal Golf course next time. It is much quieter and no such pressure from a Marshall ever. It has been years since this happened to me.

We had a nice time playing at the course under challenging conditions with the recent endless rain storms we recently encountered. Pace was a little slow but it was a Sunday. We had an early time but was behind a tournament.

Honestly the road noise was disturbing. I know where the course is so did expect it. It just bothered me more than i had expected.

Staff was very friendly.

Like playin this couse. Good people every time we had to tag up with others.

Let’s get straight to the point in this review

6/10 total scale

It’s you’re typically walkable, local beater course. Minus the downside of not having a driving range or chipping area. (Major turnoff)

Course conditions: Open, flat layout, out of the rough is thick and challenging due to course’s poor ability to drain water. Bunkers are hard packed, solidified sand. Fairways are patchy but playable. Greens are surprising in decent (better then I expected)

Pace of play: Outstanding!!!,I played as a single and never had to play up. Most of the locals are on it and there was never a time I had to wait to hit.

Staff: Outstanding!! All Staff members were solid and friendly. They took great care of me. From the pro shop to the snack bar booth lady, down to the greens keepers.

For the price: it’s cheaper then surrounding courses.

Caught a round in between storms. It’s a no carry winter season. However if you can drive it straight then your play is good. Come out and get the round in. The car is now open so grab a brew before you play. Expect a bit of a delay as the they stack them tee times.

I didn’t receive an email and the staff person insisted an email was needed to use my prepaid. Finally when I couldn’t find the email they accepted my license. I got to the course 30min before tee time and the same staff person rudely said it wasn’t time. Few minutes later he calls my name. Don’t know why they insist on delaying my checkin. I don’t encounter this at other golf courses. The guy there needs to take some customer service training